computer science

Olivetti M28

Olivetti M28 is a computer science topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Olivetti M28 rather than just read about it. In short: The Olivetti M28 personal computer, introduced in 1986, was the successor to the Olivetti M24. It had an Intel 80286 CPU running at 8 MHz and 512 KB (expandable to 1024 KB on the motherboard) of RAM, featuring a 5.25" floppy drive and a 20 MB hard drive.

Key takeaways

Olivetti M28 belongs to computer science; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect Olivetti M28 to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of Olivetti M28 from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

The Olivetti M28 personal computer, introduced in 1986, was the successor to the Olivetti M24. It had an Intel 80286 CPU running at 8 MHz and 512 KB (expandable to 1024 KB on the motherboard) of RAM, featuring a 5.25" floppy drive and a 20 MB hard drive. The operating systems were MS-DOS 3.2 and XENIX. The computer had room to install three disk units, as opposed to only two on the M24. It was possible to install a 70 MB hard drive, a 80287 math coprocessor and an enhanced CGA compatible graphic card capable of displaying 640 × 400 pixels monochrome. An additional graphics card, EGC2413 (also known as DEB, Display Enhancement Board) was available to extend the number of colors to 16, plus some other additional features as combined text plus 8 color graphics, dithering, blinking etc. The Olivetti M28 was rebranded as the AT&T PC 6310 by AT&T in 1987 and sold on the US market. It was available in France as the Persona 1800, sold by LogAbax.

Illustrations

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Olivetti M28

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Olivetti M28 claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In computer science, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Olivetti M28 before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Olivetti M28 ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Olivetti M28

In research: Olivetti M28 appears in computer science research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses Olivetti M28 in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: Olivetti M28 is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Computer-related introductions in 1986, Computer hardware stubs, Olivetti personal computers, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for Olivetti M28 outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study Olivetti M28 in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what Olivetti M28 means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain Olivetti M28 out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Olivetti M28 in simple terms?

Why does Olivetti M28 matter?

Because it connects several computer science ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Olivetti M28?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Olivetti M28.